How to Make Grommet Ring Curtains

Written by kimberly johnson

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Grommet curtains are simple, panel-style curtains that have a series of holes punched along the top edge of the fabric. The holes of the curtain fit onto the end of a curtain rod to hold the curtains in place. A metal or plastic ring, called a grommet, encircles each hole amd prevents the hole from tearing once it is hung onto a curtain rod. Grommet curtains are not difficult to make, but they do require careful measuring so that the grommets hang evenly.

Skill level:

Moderately Easy

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Things you need

Fabric

Yard stick

Scissors

Steam iron

Straight pins

Sewing machine

Drapery weights

Tape measure

Fabric pencil

One-quarter-inch self-attaching grommets

Curtain rod

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Instructions

Making the Curtains

1

Place a tape measure just above the window and stretch it down to where you want the curtains to stop. If there is a curtain rod already installed, measure from the curtain rod.

2

Add 3 inches to the measurement to account for the top hem and 8 inches to account for the bottom hem. This is the total length that you need for each curtain. Multiply the measurement by two to get the total fabric yardage if you are creating two curtains.

3

Lay the fabric open on a flat work surface. Place a yard stick, or other straight object, along one side and use scissors to cut the edge so that it is perfectly straight. Repeat the process on the remaining three sides of the fabric so that the fabric does not have any irregular edges.

4

Turn the fabric over so it is face down on the work surface. Fold the bottom of the fabric up 8 inches and iron it in place with a steam iron to create a crease. Unfold the fabric and place the lower edge at the newly created crease. Iron the fabric with the steam iron to create a second crease.

5

Fold the hem up so that it is a double-fold hem and pin it in place using straight pins.

6

Sew the pinned edge of the fabric using a sewing machine. The thread should be positioned at the location of the upper crease. Remove the fabric from the sewing machine.

7

Turn the fabric sideways and fold it over 3 inches. Iron the fabric with the iron to crease it. Unfold the fabric, place the edge along the crease, then iron it again to create a second crease. Insert drapery weights along the crease and fold the hem over to create the double fold. Insert straight pins to hold the crease closed and repeat the process on the other side of the fabric. Sew each side closed with the sewing machine.

8

Create the top hem by folding it over 3 inches and ironing. Place the edge of the fabric along the newly created crease and iron again to create a second crease. Unfold the materials and use scissors to cut the edge of the fabric until it is only three-eighths of an inch away from the first fold. This removes extra fabric and makes cutting the grommet holes much easier. Refold the fabric and sew it shut using the sewing machine.

Attaching the Grommets

1

Place a tape measure along the top hem of the curtain and use a fabric pencil to make a mark three-quarters of an inch from one side of the curtain. Place additional marks every 6 to 10 inches until reaching the opposite side of the curtain.

2

Place a self-attaching grommet ring over each marked location and trace around the inside of the ring with the fabric pencil. Use scissors to cut out the rings of fabric.

3

Separate a grommet so that it is in two pieces. Place the serrated ring part of the grommet underneath the fabric so that it is positioned around the cutout hole. Place the other part of the grommet on top of the fabric and press the two circles together firmly to secure them. Repeat the process to attach the remaining grommets to the curtain.

4

Insert each grommet ring onto the curtain rod to hang the curtains.

Tips and warnings

Grommets spaced at 10 inches rather than 6 inches, allow the fabric to drape down in between the grommets.